Chapter 5: Girls day

"Another sunny day when I'm in another crappy mood" Mami sighed as she looked out the window at the bright blue sky, the suns golden rays shining down into the hidden leaf as the children played in the falling autumn leaves. With it now being October the seasons were changing and the leaves that once covered the trees were now turning into bright oranges and reds before falling to the ground. Mami loved autumn, it was her favourite season. Yes autumn was chillier then summer but it was warmer then winter, the leaves were starting to fall and the bright colours would dance in the sunlight as they descend to the ground, the trees would then look bare but then they would blossom the following spring.

There were times when Mami wanted that to do that, to shed her leaves for the winter and become a new person in the spring.

After her argument with the Hokage yesterday Mami had been in a really foul mood, she would snap at any little thing that went wrong and it didn't help that Shikamaru got called away for a mission so they had to cancel their plans, stupid Hokage. Mami could make some plans, maybe Ino was back or she could see if Sakura fancied going out for lunch but Mami just couldn't get the drive to be in a good mood for company.

She was upset, pissed off and desperately wanted to see Shikamaru. It seamed like to much effort to do anything but mope, so Mami planed to spend the day in her pyjamas and sulk around the flat, however fate intervened when there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Mami called as she threw her fluffy and warm dressing gown on.

"It's Hinata…" A small voice called though the wood "…Lady Tsunade has a mission for you" Mami snorted, just what she needed, a mission. With a huff the moody women opened the front door to see her bothers team-mate. Hinata was a very shy women; always had been, but you could see some of Naruto had rubbed off, her pale lavender eyes were wide with innocence and happiness as she waited.

"What is it this time?" Mami moped as she took the slip of paper Hinata handed her and unfolded the sheet to see where she was going next. Mami just wasn't in the mood for this, missions, the Hokage, anything.

"I know she can be a bit rough at times but just know that Lady Tsunade does feel guilty after badgering you for so long" Hinata whispered as she pressed her index fingers together, a habit the woman had developed since she was young. Mami could see the women was worried so to calm her nerves she smiled kindly.

"Would you like to come in?" Mami asked softly as she moved to the side to let the small female into her abode. Mami suddenly wanted some company, someone to laugh and joke with.

"It's ok, I don't want to bother you" Mami just sighed at Hinatas politeness, she was the Hyuga heiress after all.

"You have been on a team with my brother for how long? You should know by now that us of the Inuzuka family say what we think, if I had a problem with you coming in I wouldn't have asked. Now get in here" Mami joked as she tugged the small women into her flat.

"Thanks…" Hinata wavered as she was shoved into a spot on the sofa soon followed by Naoki jumping on the poor girl and covering her in his slobber "…down boy" Naoki did as he was told and sat there waiting for the guest to give him a fuss, when she didn't Naoki lifted his red giant paw and placed in on her leg.

"Now lets see what we have here…" Mami jested as she placed two mugs of hot brown liquid on the table.

"What is this?" Hinata asked as she sniffed at the mugs contents, it was a little to thick to be tea and to creamy to be coffee.

"I was on a mission three years ago in the Land of Tea and came across this, I gave it a go and now I try to get some every time I pass though. It's called hot chocolate"

"Hot chocolate" Hinata repeated as she looked a little confused, Mami opened the slip of paper with a small smile on her lips.

"Take a break…" Mami read out loud as she sipped on her hot drink "…you are to go to the hot springs at the top of the village, ask for Miu and show her this note. You can take two other people to go with you. Have fun"

"That does sound like a nice mission" Hinata said with a smile, she was still hesitant about trying the drink as she held it in her hands.

"Don't drink it if you don't want to Hinata…" Mami said as she thought though possible partners to take "…don't be polite just for me"

"No it's ok I will try it…" To prove her point Hinata took a small sip after blowing it cool. The look on her face was priceless "…that's really good" The small female had a smile on her face and then proceeded to gulp the whole mug down in seconds, another Naruto trait.

"Do you have any plans today?" Mami asked gulping hers down just as fast.

"No it don't…" Hinata answered as she rubbed Naokis favourite spot, right behind his left ear. With a brush of her fingers Hinata caught a nerve and Naokis back legs started to twitch much to the amusement of the women"…why do you ask?"

"Would you like to come with me on this 'mission'?"

"No…" Hinata stuttered as she nearly dropped her mug "…I couldn't possibly, you could invite someone else…"

"Stop…" Mami interrupted with a smile "…the reason I ask is because today I'm in a really bad mood and your someone who is always happy and besides you said you had no plans, I'm sure you have been training really hard recently. Us girls need a break every once in a while" Mami did her best puppy dog eyes as she pouted, this look could get her anything she wanted.

"I would love to"

XxX

"Come on Naoki" Mami called once they were ready to go, with a twist of the wrist the flat was locked and the two kunoichi went to get the third member of the group.

The two made their way though the market towards Mamis family home, the first born male would normally stay and would inherit the house after his parents death and Kiba was no different, their mother was still alive and kicking but she had a small place built in the garden and moved in there; she had everything she needed and if not it was a two second trip to the main house.

To fill the time Hinata and Mami talked, nothing in particular came up but they chatted as they walked to the Inuzuka household, as the two walked though the gate Kiba looked up. A smile spread across the males cheeks as he saw the two walk into the compound, he was truly happy to see the them as he sat in front of the house, his three month son Hiroto gurgled in his arms.

"Hay Mami and Hinata are here…" He called into the house as Akamaru came bounding up, he greeted the with his normal boundless energy"…how you both doing?"

"Could be better" Mami replied as she gave Akamaru a belly rub, his foot kept twitching as Mami caught a nerve in her rubbing.

"I'm fine thanks Kiba" Hinata answered as she stood there looking a little out of place, Hinata had been raised a little differently to the Inuzuka laid back attitude so Hinata always felt a little unsure when she came to the main household.

"How is my little nephew doing?" Mami asked cheerfully as she came over to see the small bundle.

"Just fine" Kiba laughed as he sat on the bench just outside the front door with a bottle in his hand, Hiroto was snuggled up in his warm blanket as Kiba gave him his morning feed in the falling leaves.

"He getting his fathers appetite as you can see…" Ino joked as she came out with a smile on her face, her son happily sucking on the bottle "…good to see you both, we never got to talk after I got back a few days ago"

"Don't worry I'm here to rectify that…" Mami said as she pulled funny faces at the little one as he fed "…I got a mission from Lady Tsunade to go to the hot springs and take two people with me, did you want to come?"

"You know I would love to Mami but it's not fair to Kiba…"

"Just go already…" Kiba interrupted as he put Hiroto on his shoulder to burp him "…I have no problem spending even more time with my son"

"It's only for the day and it's a pamper day" Mami moaned softly as she tried to convince th blonde women with her big puppy dog eyes.

"Stop that…" Ino protested as she shock her head "…are you sure Kiba?" Ino asked as she affectingly rubbed Hirotos back helping him to bring up a rather load burp.

"You're are just up the road if I need you, now go" Ino just had to laugh at her husband when she looked at him to see the same puppy dog eyes on his face.

"Family trait I take it…" Ino laughed as she kissed Kiba on the forehead "…please refrain from teaching that to our son"

"Come on you two…" Kiba called as he swiftly stood up with Hiroto safely in his arms "…if you want to wrestle around then go out back" Akamaru and Naoki leapt up from their play fight and ran past Kiba into the house, they all had to laugh at the dogs antics as they rushed to the garden.

XxX

"There's nothing like a good pamper day with the girls is there" Ino stated as the three of them got changed into the fluffy white robes provided. Turns out Miu was a kind older lady with greying hair, she smiled when the three arrived and when she was shown the letter she whisked them away into a private area which few could afford. The women where shown where to change and then informed to ring the bell when they were ready.

"I wonder what's going to happen" Hinata pondered as they sat waiting for Miu to return.

"Don't know but I can't wait, my body has been screaming for some attention for the last six months" Mami stretched her body out trying to work out some kinks, her feet never poking out the end of the robe.

"I bet it has" Ino suggested as her blonde eyebrows wiggled.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Mami joked but she didn't get a reply as Miu walked into the room, she bowed to the group before her as she smiled kindly.

"If you would like to follow me ladies then we will get the day started"

"Excuse me…" Hinata whispered as she swiftly lifted herself off the floor"…but what are we doing today?"

"Well first you will take a nice relaxing bath in our hot springs before moving on to the stuff you are here for, massages, facials, manicures and pedicures" Miu's blue eyes smiled kindly as the three were lead around the building.

"This is amazing…" Ino gushed as she dumped her white robe in a pile on the damp floor and bombed into the hot water "…come in the waters great" Ino said as she splashed around, the place was huge, all you could see was steaming water.

"This part of the hot spring is privately owned and you can only bathe here with an invitation from the Hokage" Miu explained with a smile on her face.

"You mean the Hokage owns this spring" Mami confirmed as Hinata slipped calmly into to the thrashing water.

"Yes she does, its really only herself and miss Shizune that bathe here"

"What's keeping you?" Ino hollowed as she settled down in the warm water.

"Coming" Mami replied. She gave Miu a thankful nod before walking to the waters edge, the older lady excused herself as Mami watched the two already in the water, once they looked away Mami quickly took off her robe and got into the liquid bliss however her plan didn't work the way Mami wanted.

"Oh gosh…" Hinata gasped as she turned towards Mami, her lavender eyes easily making out the scars that covered Mami from neck to toe "…what happened?"

"Nothing" Mami dismissed as she sank into the water so only her head was showing, her eyes a blank wall of darkness as she looked at the two women with her.

"What do you mean nothing…" Ino stated as the naked women waddled over to Mami "…these can't be nothing" Ino lifted Mamis left arm to prove her point, Mami just shoved her arm back under the water and hugged it close.

"It's nothing"

"Nothing my ass…" Ino stood there with a scowl on her face and her hands on her hips, she looked to Mamis arms and then back at Mamis eyes waiting "…well, explain"

"Look Ino, Hinata please don't tell anyone…" Mami begged as she looked down with shame shining in her eyes as small tears built up "…these are from my past, a past I can't forget so please don't tell anyone you saw these" Slowly Mami lifted her arm back up; there was a pale thin line that started by the side of her armpit and slowly ran down to the crease of her elbow and down to her wrist.

"That's why you are always covered…" Hinata exclaimed "…you don't want anyone to know"

"I have always had a low self esteem, if anyone else knew about my scars then…" Mami gently ran the tips of her fingers along her clans mark on her face, they started just above her eyebrows and ran though the eyes to curve over the cheeks and finish near her jaw line "…well I don't know what I would do"

"Mami…" Ino whispered "…why didn't you say anything before"

"Just look at me…" Mami exclaimed as she stood in the water with despair clearly written on her face, from the arms down Mamis skin was covered with thin pales lines that looked like lots of little spider webs embedded in her skin, Mami turned around so the two could see the huge scar that ran across her back "…I'm a freak and a monster, I look like I've been in a blender. Men would turn tail and run just like Shikamaru will when he sees this" Mami gestured to her body as her good mood took a nose dive, no man would ever what a women who was scared inside and out.

"Wait back up…" Hinata stressed she looked Mami right in the eyes "…are you telling us that you're with Shikamaru" Hinata looked towards Ino who was now beside her looking just as shocked, the two women shared a quick look before their eyes looked back to the distressed women.

"You mean to tell me that Shikamaru, my team mate is going out with you. When did this happen and why wasn't I informed?"

"It's still a new thing…" Mami whispered as she blushed a light shade of pink "…it's only been two days since he asked me out"

"That is still two days to late"

"Please…" Mami begged "…we don't want anyone to know so don't tell anyone"

"Don't worry…" Hinata comforted with a soft smile as she gently placed her arm around Mami "…what's said on a girl day stays on girl day"

A.N. Sorry for the long wait, I was having trouble with one of my other stories but now that its finished (YAY) I can work on this again. I have written up to chapter nine so it shouldn't be to long untill the next chapter. Hope you enjoyied and hope to hear what you think.